Three charged in Plymouth arson

May 23, 2008|ANITA MUNSON Tribune Staff Writer

PLYMOUTH -- Two young Plymouth men and a friend from Lafayette, Ind., have been charged in connection with the March 2 arson that destroyed a vacant car wash. Police took Vincent Carnegie, 20, and Jonathan Ferch, 18, both of Plymouth, into custody on arson warrants late last week. A third man, Ronald Pearson, 19, was arrested in Lafayette, where police said he lives, and held over the weekend pending extradition to Marshall County. Plymouth Police Detective Leo Mangus said "other juveniles" allegedly were in the building with Carnegie, Ferch and Pearson when a conversation about starting a fire there took place shortly before 1:39 a.m. March 2. The vacant building owned by Gene Hutchison was, Mangus said, a place where the trio and others were "hanging out" together from time to time. Mangus said the fire "had nothing to do with the building owner." The fire, which did more than $200,000 damage to the building, was determined to be arson following an investigation by Plymouth fire officials and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Plymouth Fire Chief George Cook said investigators called the fire "incendiary," adding that felony charges lay ahead for anyone convicted of intentionally setting the blaze. Mangus said Tuesday that tips from the public played an important role in the investigation that led to the arrests of the trio. "Information was received, including the names of some individuals that were involved in this arson," Mangus said. He said authorities believe a mattress inside the building was set on fire, starting the blaze. Carnegie and Ferch are both being held on $15,000 surety or $3,000 cash bonds. Pearson is to be extradited from Lafayette to face the same. Staff writer Anita Munson: amunson@sbtinfo.com (574) 936-2920